Table Games in Offline and Online Casinos: Profit Increase

A Brief Detour Into the History

Table games appeared in Ancient Egypt in the 5th century BC. They did not have complex plot twists or side bets.

The oldest products were:

1. Senet. Its essence lies in the alternate throwing of dice of 2 colours and moving the chips along a special wooden field. The Egyptians believed that in this way, they were playing not with their partners at the table but with fate.
2. Mancala. From the Arabic word naqala, it can be literally translated as “to move”. Such a pastime was popular among nomadic peoples. They did not need to carry a board and figures with them. It was enough to dig a few holes in the ground, take pebbles, and start playing.

With the emergence of large cities that became the centres of ancient civilisation, “real” table entertainment also appeared. We are talking about chess and dice.

Mentions of the first card games date back to the 12th century. Ancient China is considered their homeland. Wooden plaques, bamboo leaves, and paper were used as a basis.

Roulette is the youngest representative of this category of products. It appeared in the 18th century in France and was sought-after among nobles, ladies of the court, and the rest of the royal retinue. The period from the 18th to 20th centuries saw the rapid development of land-based casinos, in which cards and the wheel of luck took centre stage.

With the development of the Internet and the popularisation of mobile betting platforms, board entertainment quickly moved to the online format. Today, this is the second most well-known kind of gambling solution after digital slot machines.

In-Demand Mechanics

There are 2 options:

1. Games of chance. The most striking example is dice. Players take turns throwing them, and the winner is the one who has the highest value. Sometimes, there can also be images, not only dots. Roulette is another category of products in which the outcome depends only on luck. The victory goes to the sector where the ball fell.
2. Entertainment with calculation elements. Here, customers do not take chances but also rely on the mathematical probability of combinations. In Texas Hold'em, blackjack, baccarat, and other versions, casino visitors use a betting strategy to get a prize. Another example of game mechanics is dominoes. The starter kit includes a set of tiles and is awarded randomly, after which much depends on the person’s skills and calculations.

Almost all tabletop games in modern online casinos are based on a random number generator. It determines the order in which a successful combo appears in accordance with the technical parameters of the solution (volatility and RTP percentage). The exception is live content where real dealers participate.

Each manufacturer of such content is required to undergo licensing.

Independent checks are carried out by:

• QUINEL;
• iTech Labs;
• BMM TestLab;
• eCOGRA;
• GLI, and other international centres.

The presence of a certificate of conformity is a sign of quality and trust in the provider's work on the part of consumers and B2B partners. Players are unlikely to place bets in a game that has not been approved by independent experts.

Table Entertainment in Land-Based Casinos

The most popular options in offline locations are the following ones:

• American and European roulette;
• baccarat;
• Texas Hold'em;
• Blackjack, etc.

Gambling brands that are oriented to residents and tourists from Southeast Asia also offer Sic Bo, Dragon Tiger, and other products with a local flair.

Organisation of Work in Casinos

Each type of entertainment has its tables. They are usually oval or round in shape and have markings on the cloth.

In roulette, there is also an additional rotating circle on a point holder, which determines the winning number. It is made of hardwood, thoroughly polished, and varnished.

Dealers serve players at the tables. They accept bets, explain the rules of the game, and monitor their implementation. There may be an inspector next to the croupier. He also reviews the progress, indicates bids, and registers the achievements of customers.

Emphasis on Security

Cards and chips are items that have increased the attention of casino management. They are expensive, and there is always a risk of fraud or abuse on the part of employees. Therefore, after each change, such objects are laboriously counted, after which they are sent for storage in a specially equipped room.

Security is the key issue for modern establishments. To protect themselves against intruders and unscrupulous visitors, many operators install advanced control systems.

The main tasks of these solutions:

• 24/7 monitoring of what is going on in the halls and office spaces;
• careful chipping of tokens;
• connection of cards to a single monitoring service.

RFID is one of the latest high-tech methods used by casinos and manufacturers of chips to combat counterfeiting.

An RFID element looks ordinary on the outside, but it contains a built-in tag. It is encoded and has a radio unit for broadcasting secret serial numbers. All data is read using wireless equipment. Thanks to this, it is possible to instantly understand whether the token is legal or fake.

Protection from intruders is a prerequisite for the work of modern gambling halls. In this way, casinos can reduce the risk of fraud, minimise costs, and attract new clients. All this also helps to increase revenues from table entertainment.

Organisation of Games with Live Dealers

This is another source of income for specialised companies, and it has been gaining wide popularity in recent years.

Operators can independently launch the broadcast of live content or partner up with a well-known provider. The second option looks preferable since it relieves business owners of many technical tasks.

The developers of live solutions take full responsibility for:

• supply and setup of filming equipment;
• organisation of round-the-clock broadcasts;
• storage of sensitive customer data, etc.

The task of entrepreneurs is to provide space for shooting and trained personnel (administrators, dealers, and croupiers).

One of the most famous collaborations took place between the Dragonara Maltese casino and the Evolution Swedish company. The brand rents several halls in a well-known casino complex, from where live broadcasts of roulette, baccarat, and blackjack are conducted.

Table Entertainment on iGaming Platforms

Cards and roulette bring from 20% to 40% of the total profit of casino sites. In terms of profitability, such content is ahead of arcades, multiplayer fishing, and lotteries, second only to digital slots.

On the online resources, these products work based on a certified RNG. Independent experts also check built-in mathematical algorithms, the presence of responsible gambling tools, and other technical characteristics.

Bonuses and Promotions

Methods of maximising income from table solutions largely overlap with the chosen marketing strategy:

1. Bonuses. A common technique is the accrual of extra spins for those categories of entertainment that have a low demand among the audience. For example, it is possible to launch a promotion with free bets on all cards presented on the website. This will increase interest in game positions and will be an excellent motivation for users.
2. Multiplayer options. These are tournaments, quests, and other formats, to which several products are connected. A huge number of casino visitors take part in such activities. They compete with each other, collect points, and bring additional income to entrepreneurs.
3. Game of the day. Operators can organise this promotion, each time choosing a new entertainment from the catalogue. In this case, dealing cards or spinning the roulette wheel will be accompanied by the accrual of bonuses and personal scores.

Side Bets

This is a system of auxiliary bids on intermediate and final results of the draws. With their help, it is possible to increase interest among gamblers and generate a good income for an online casino.

The key advantage of the technique is the addition of variability. If, for example, users doubt the outcome of a round and are afraid to take risks, then they can place a small amount of money on any intermediate result.

If the bid is successful, customers receive extra profit, which motivates them to play more. In case of a failure, players should not be upset, because the losses are small.

Types of side bets:

• more/less;
• red/black;
• even/uneven;
• on the amount of points scored;
• for the winner/top 3 finalists, etc.

These are the most common options that are found in many card games and roulette. Some of them are already integrated into the traditional rules of entertainment, while the rest are added by software vendors at their discretion.

For example, blackjack has an extensive system of side bets. These are Super 7s, Royal Match, Streak, Perfect Pairs, etc. This does not prevent manufacturers from adding unique types of bids, making the content original and recognisable.

For example, Evolution has developed a branded game called Free Bet Blackjack. It cannot be found in the assortment of other developers.

Additional Functions

Let us consider the most popular options:

1. Different rotation modes. These are accelerated, automatic, slow, lightning-fast, etc. A mandatory condition is support for the demo version. Thanks to it, everyone can get acquainted with the game’s features and try their hand without the risk of shedding money.
2. Hint system. It is needed so that beginners do not get lost in the rules or give in to stronger opponents. Despite all the visual simplicity and similarity, blackjack, baccarat, Texas Hold'em, and other products have several fundamental differences. Interactive tips will allow users to quickly navigate, not miss a move, and get the coveted prize.
3. Jackpot. It can be local or progressive, supported by the software vendor, or covered entirely by gamblers' bets. The availability of such an option stirs interest in entertainment and motivates them to play more often and for larger sums.
4. Multipliers. They are accrued in relation to intermediate or final winnings. For example, in Lightning Baccarat, the Evolution provider awards random factors (in the range of x2–x8) for all 52 cards. In Golden Wealth Baccarat, a 5-fold coefficient is given for prize amounts.
5. Commission-free play. In cards and roulette, a banker's fee is charged for each move of the user. The percentage may vary: it depends on the pricing policy of the developer and the online casino’s margin. However, there are many products for which these deductions are not provided. Such changes become a pleasant bonus for visitors to virtual platforms.

The integration of additional functions will increase the profitability of tabletop games, attract new clients to the site, and improve communication with regular customers.

The Main Things about Cards and Roulette in Casinos

Key aspects that operators need to take into account:

• Popular games include Texas Hold'em, baccarat, and blackjack. Players enjoy betting in American and European roulette.
• In offline halls, one of the methods for increasing income is to launch live solutions. Entrepreneurs can organise the filming independently or enter into a partnership with an experienced software vendor. The advanced security system customisation will help business owners reduce costs and increase profits.
• In online casinos, extra revenues can be generated thanks to popular marketing techniques. These are bonuses, loyalty programs, multiplayer tournaments, and promotions. Good income may also be brought by integrating side bets and functions (jackpots, wagers without commission fees, etc.).

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• buying or renting products;
• payment system connection;
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